Chair



(No Model.)-

H. M. WILLIS. 0mm.

N0.'593,263. Patented Nov 9, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT Tries.

HENRY M. WILLIS, OF EAST WILLISTON, NEXV YORK.

CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,263, dated November 9, 1897.

Application filed February 16, 1897. serial No. 623,605., (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY M. WILLIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Williston, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates more particularly to chairs having movable backs and to the mechanism for adjusting the chair-back to the required angle and holding it reliably in the desired position.

It consists of racks supported on the framing of the chair above the line of the joint with the back and extending rearwardly at the sides of the latter. They receive pinions fast on a rod extending transversely of the back and supporting it. Hand-wheels on one or both ends of the rod afford means for turning it and through the pinions and racks carrying it nearer to or farther from the line of the hinge and correspondingly varying the inclination of the back.

The locking device consists of a frictional surface on the rod contacting with a corresponding surface on the chair-back and adapted to prevent the rotation of the rod. Means are provided for holding the pinions and racks reliably in mesh.

In practice I have used blocks having plane this specification and show the invention as I have carried it out.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a chair equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the rod and its attachments alone. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through certain parts, showingthe end of the rod and the immediately-adjacent portions. Fig. 4 is a corresponding view taken at a right angle to the preceding figure. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 show different forms of blocks.

A is the frame of the chair, either ordinary or rocker. A are the arms, and A rearward extensions, of the same.

B is the back, hinged to the frame A at b and free to swing between. the extensions A into any required angle relatively to the seat.

0 are yokes, of cast iron or other metal, fastened to the innerfaces of the extensions by screws 0 and carry each an offset toothed on the upper face to form a rack G.

D is a rod of brass or iron strong enough to support the rearward pressure exerted by the person occupying the chair.

D D are pinions fast on the shaft or rod D and meshing each with its rack G, adapted to carry the rod forward and backward parallel with the rear face of the back and thereby change the inclination of the latter. The yokes O are each slotted at c to allow the rod D to extend through and travel freely therein, but prevent it rising sufficiently to release the pinions from engagement with the racks, and C is an inwardly-projectin g flange lying close above the pinion for the same purpose and to present a smooth and finished face.

So far as yet described there is nothing to prevent the rearward movement of the back excepting the frictional contact of the rod D againstit, which would in itself be insufficient to support the thrust of even a moderate weight. I utilize this frictional principle and provide means based thereon by which the back is automatically and reliably held.

D D are blocks of wood or metal fixed on the rod D and having plane surfaces 61 d lying parallel with the axial line thereof and coincident, each block with the other. In Figs. 1 and 5 I have shown the blocks as square, thus forming four surfaces at on each. The blocks are placed on the rod D so as to lie in line with the stiles or uprights B at each side of the back B and receive the pressure directly therefrom. When pressure is applied to the back, as by the leaning backward of the occupant, the blocks will turn automatically, carrying the rod with them through the portion of a revolution necessary to present a plane face of each in contact with the corresponding faces on the back, and will O and the closelfit of the slots 1.c.to.theipro-.

jecting ends of the rod.

To change the inclination, it is only neces:

sary for the occupant of the chair to lean for-- Ward enough to relieve the back, and theuby means of the hand-Wheels D on the overhung ends rotate-the rod and traverse it along the slot to the desired DGW-POSliJlOILi As soon. as the pressure is again applied upon the.

backthe blocks D assume a position of. close contact and the back-.isheld as before,but. at adifierent angle to the seat,

Int-he mostcomplete formoof the invention, the blocks D are of metal cast in one with, the pinions, as in Figs. 3 and. 4,,and areiheld to the rod by set-screws D lyingbelow the plane faceof-theblock, andthebackois, pro-1 sothatits inclinationmay be varied,.in.com-

tectedby metalplates B fixed thereonat the proper height onthe stiles B .toreceivethe blocks.

Modifications maybe madein the forms andproportions Without ,departingfrom the principle of ,the invention or, sacrificing its advantages.

Instead of the blocks of square section.,six or, eight sided blocks-maybe substituted, as

shown inFigsand 6, or the blocks may be cylindrical .Withtoothed .or, roughened sur-.

faces (see Fig. '7) received-in corresponding,

surfaces on theplates 13*.

Although ,I have .shownthe, invention. as;

applied 'to an ordinary chair, it will. ,be un,-;

derstood thatit will serve on rockers andalSo.

frame,- the said .rod, adapted to, support the.

baoklat the desired angle and held against rotationby its contact therewith, all substan; tially asherein: specified.

2.,Ina chair a backhinged .to the: frame so. that'its inclination. may bevaried,-in com,-

bination with a--,10ose rod extendingtransversely ofyithe back in -frearrthereof, pinions on the rod meshing into racks carried by rearWardly-extending portions of the frame, and a surface on said rod adapted to engage with a corresponding surface on the chairbaek', to support the-latter. andhold it at the desired angle relatively to the frame, all substantially as herein specified. 3. In a chair, a back hinged to the frame so that its inclination may be varied, in combination with a loose rod extendingtransversely-of the iback'in rear thereof, pinions on ,the rocl: ;meshing; into racks carried by rearwardly-extending portions of the frame, and a surface on said rod adapted :to engage frictionally with, a;ycorresponding surfaoe on the-chair-back,,to.support the latter and hold it at the desiredangle relatively tothe frame, and means for xpreventingtheurise of. said pinions out. of mesh .with said racks,-all sub: stantially as hereinspeoified.

4. Iuachair, a back hinged to the, frame bination withsa loose rod extending transversely ofthe, back-in. rear thereof, rearwardly-extending frame portions adjacent to the back .at the sides, yokes onnsaidframe portions, having slots receiving :the ends of therods, wracks ,on .said. .yolres, pinions i fixed on.the, saidlrodmeshingwith the racks, and

plane faced blocks .fiXed .on, said rod and adapted by: engaging corresponding, plane surfaces-onthe. chair-back, to. hold .the. rod

againstrotatiomall substantially-as hereinspecified 5., Ina. chair, a-b'aclrhinged to. the frame at b, and rearward extensions A ladjacent to the backpat the sides, in combinationwith theyokes C havingtheslotsc, racks C and flanges :03 ontheyokes the rod! D, the. pinions vD1, blocks 'D and hand-wheels D. .thereon, and. the plates 13? on, said backtoreceive the blocks, all substantially aslhereinuspecifled-z In .testimonythatl claim.the invention above set forthI affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

l-L'M. IVILLIS.

Witnesses Rosr. CoNNoR, GEo..W. CASE, J r. 

